Isatphone Pro a Pain in the A
Submitted: Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 18:26
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Shaker
Is anybody else finding the constant firmware upgrades annoying?
To be honest, I think it's time for it go, I'm sick to death of it & wonder what happens if you are travelling with no internet access as some of these upgrades are deemed to be "critical". I think it's arrogance for manufacturers to expect everybody to have Internet access, why should a phone or GPS purchaser have to have Internet?
Most don't even provide hard copy operating manuals now, expecting the purchaser to do their printing for them if the purchaser wants to carry a manual for reference purposes.
That's my rant for today!,
Reply By: Member - John M50 - Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 18:51
Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 18:51
I agree, I to am tired of the constant requirement to upgrade electronics. I bought GPS's, GPS software, computers etc and 50% of the year no internet access due to work.
We buy these items in good faith, only to be told update or system stops or you leave your system vulnerable.
I do like my electronics though, and with your post it does not appear that I suffer alone.
Its all good, chin up and time for a beer.
AnswerID:
601473
Reply By: Member - William B (The Shire) - Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 19:16
Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 19:16
Hi Shaker,
I don't have a Isatphone but like you I'm sick and tired of having to download the instructions before I start to use something.
I do like my electronics, so I guess I'm stuck with it.
William
AnswerID:
601475
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 20:01
Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 20:01
Hi Shaker
I can not see what the issue is?
The latest 5.11.0 firmware update has been out for ages and as with all updates, takes less than 15 minutes to update and is dead easy.
The critical update would have been about 18 months ago and from memory there has only been 2 firmware updates since then.
Firmwares will fix any issues that customers may have had, and it goes to show you that Inmarsat take their products and updates seriously. As for printed instructions, they are not needed, as they always give you a
breakdown of what the firmware has in the Firmware update information details.
I have a few friends here in
Clare that come to me to do their updates, for either they are not quite sure what to do, or have updated their computer from Windows 7 and can not get the update to work on later Windows versions.
Either way, it does not worry me and if you are ever passing through
Clare, give me 15 minutes and I can update yours also.
All the Best.
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
601479
Follow Up By: Shaker - Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 20:34
Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 20:34
So why have a new upgrade that only works on a very old operating system, anybody that buys a new computer will have Windows 10 or 8.1.
Didn't a lot of people have upgrading issues recently?
I got an email yesterday telling me that the upgrade was critical!
Personally, I think we were tricked into buying these phones with long lasting credits, which are now a thing of the past.
I have also found it to be very unreliable at getting a satellite fix in the Outback.
Appreciate the offer of doing it for me, but I'm in Victoria. The dealer that supplied mine charges $49.00 to do it.
It seems to me that about 50% of the time that I do simple firmware upgrades they hang at around 97% complete, leaving the item sitting on the desk blowing bubbles!
FollowupID:
870982
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 22:43
Friday, Jun 17, 2016 at 22:43
Sorry to hear that Shaker. I have never had any issues getting phone reception in the outback, and to think a dealer charges $49 for the upgrade is daylight robbery.
All the Best.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
870984
Follow Up By: maurice b - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 14:52
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 14:52
As a long time Isatphone user i have never had any problems getting a reception . However we are all cheesed off about the shorter expiry date. I'm considering a new Satphone with the Aust number
FollowupID:
871028
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 18:36
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 18:36
Hi Maurice
The only trouble with that is you have to spend countless hundreds of dollars to buy a new phone, where as that money could be put into your pre paid credit.
I am not happy like all users with the reduced time once a voucher is activated, but means I will not be spending as much on phone credit.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
871045
Follow Up By: maurice b - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 20:07
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 20:07
Thats correct Steve ,However i now want to be able to make a call 365 days and recieve a bill for what i use at $15 / month . Im interested in the Thuraya xt lite .Have used one before and there arn't as bad as people say .I see farmers having them in there pockets with antenna out recieving calls . I see the Isatphones still sell used around $500 on Ebay so wont have to fork out much.Plus i want to Aust number
FollowupID:
871049
Reply By: Michael H9 - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 06:02
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 06:02
I'm thinking of swapping mine over for an Optus Sat Sleeve hotspot. It uses Thuraya and the plans start at $15 a month which can be turned on and off when you like. You get a normal mobile number for people to ring in to it and you use your normal mobile phone so no dealing with 2 devices. Inmarsat were very deceptive with their initial offer and I would love to give them the flick so they can stick their updates where the sun doesn't shine.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 08:20
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 08:20
The problem with Thuraya is that they only have one satellite.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 08:41
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 08:41
Inmarsat only has one for Australia as well. I was concerned about the position of the Thuraya satellite but posts on here say it works ok in Tasmania so that's good enough for me. My main use is the red centre anyway.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: maurice b - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 19:48
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 19:48
As far as i know if you go for the optus thuraya plan you dont get an Australia Mobile number meaning calls to it a expensive, unlike Pivotel
FollowupID:
871048
Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 21:16
Saturday, Jun 18, 2016 at 21:16
According to the brochure, incoming calls are free plus you can divert your normal mobile to it for free.
FollowupID:
871055
Reply By: Malcom M - Monday, Jun 20, 2016 at 07:51
Monday, Jun 20, 2016 at 07:51
Hasn't been a Isatphone Pro update for well over a year so not sure what you are complaining about?
The Pro is an obsolete phone so you can't expect them to keep writing new drivers for new operating systems.
However all the current Pro software works fine on Windows 10 and Win sever 2012. I use on both.
AnswerID:
601621
Follow Up By: Shaker - Monday, Jun 20, 2016 at 09:53
Monday, Jun 20, 2016 at 09:53
I received an email last week regarding a firmware critical update,
Also superseded would be a better word than obsolete as they are can still be purchased new and are in general use.
FollowupID:
871140
Follow Up By: Malcom M - Monday, Jun 20, 2016 at 10:16
Monday, Jun 20, 2016 at 10:16
Yeah superseded is better but that really is nit picking.
A couple of years ago you could still buy a brand new Delorean in an Abu Dhabi showroom. That mean its just superseded as well :)
What was the upgrade referred to in your notification?
I've been running 5.11.0 for over a year and there's no mention of any update on the website and nothing shows up when running the firmware updater.
Sure you're not just running old firmware?
FollowupID:
871142